So most Aussies know that it is too hot in Australia for the reindeer (they are used to the snowy North Pole after all!) so six white boomers help Santa get around Down Under on Christmas Eve.
Many people are interested in the reindeer names, but did you know that the boomers also have individual names?
The actual six white boomers song does not include the names, unlike the original Night before Christmas story, but they are included on the album by Rolf Harris when he produced the song in the 1960s.
Six White Boomers’ Names
So, the boomers who help Santa are…
- Jackaroo
- Curly
- Bluey
- Two-Up
- Desert-Head
- Snow
If you are not an Aussie, many of those names may seem a bit strange or foreign, but they seem fairly normal to me! Although many with a young child around will know the name Bluey for a certain blue heeler.
I’m from the United States and I’ve never heard of boomers, in real life or regarding Santa. Were the names first mentioned in the 60s song or was is still common knowledge prior to that? I know a couple of reindeer had their names changed.
Donner and Blitzen were originally named Dunder and Blixem. The names were then translated to Donder and Blitzen and eventually Donder was rename Donner so that their names meant thunder and lightning in German. I wonder what the story behind the boomers’ names are.
hi Ali,
boomers are really big, strong kangaroos – I guess the term is pretty Australian 🙂
I had heard that Donner and Blitzen had changed names, but I don’t know of the boomers changing names. And I think the song in the 60s was the first list of boomer names, but I can’t be sure (I’m not old enough to know but I will check it out).
A jackaroo is someone who works on stations (big farms) in the outback – sort of like an American cowboy.
Bluey is a common Aussie nickname, specifically for anyone with red hair.
Two-up is a game that was illegally played a lot in the early 1900s, particularly by diggers (soldiers) and has become a traditional game at Australian celebrations like Anzac Day.
They are the most Aussie names in the list – and presumably not so obvious to others!
Here in Africa we use different names. There are also some of the names which have been used and do exist in our African vocabulary but mean totally different things here. It is fun to learn about them here.
Hey Ellyjude, it is fun learning about those different little details in other countries, isn’t it? So what names are in use in Africa? Although I’m guessing the boomers aren’t helping over there (although they could as it’d be too warm for reindeer with you, too!)
…Are boomers a kind of kangaroo? Because I’ve heard kangaroos ain’t exactly safe. Poor Santa really is a saint having to try and hook up six giant kangaroos to a sled.
Seriously tho’ this was a pretty interesting post, because most folks who import the Santa thing are very serious about keeping the reindeer. Although that does bring up a different question: Are there any large four-legged deer like creatures in Australia? I honestly don’t know, but I don’t think there are… which seems a bit odd. Oh well, nice post.
Hi Emma,
what an interesting response – it’s good to hear from others as you’ve mentioned things that are just so obvious to us Aussies!
Yes, boomers are large male kangaroos – larger than most.
Kangaroos are not something we generally consider dangerous but you certainly respect them because if they attack (by resting on their tail and hitting out with their hind legs) it is serious and you’d be badly hurt.
There are not any deer-like animals native to Australia – although there are some deer farmed here now days. A kangaroo or an emu are the biggest animals, and a wombat the only four legged one I can think of that would even remotely be able to help Santa!
I believe that any animal helping Santa would be respectful and kind to him – all part of Santa’s magic 🙂
That sounds really interesting. You learn something new everyday. I didn’t know that male kangaroos were called boomers. And I have to say, for most of us who have only ever seen them on tv, we are under the impression that they are dangerous.
Yes, boomers can be dangerous – they are very strong and have sharp claws – but don’t go around attacking people 🙂 Threaten a boomer or his mob and you could be in strife but you can walk past them in thee bush without being scared.
Bluey and Curly were characters in a well-known Australian comic strip.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluey_and_Curley
They used to be very common nicknames in Australia – anybody with red hair was called Bluey!
And Curly was mostly reserved for men who were bald!
I do love our Aussie sense of humour!
Australia is to hot for his raindees and kangaroos are native to Australia I had one as a pet
Yes, kangaroos are native but they’re not usually kept as pets (even Skippy was wild!)